Folding-machine.



(No Model.)

' Patented June 5, I900. T. F. HART.

I FOLDING MACHINE. .(Application mem'se t. 21, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

" n El VIIIE Q0 mm n MJW m: Monms PETERS co. pnorourno. WASNINGTON. n.c.

*Patented lune .5, I900.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

35 NESEESZ WIT Patented June 5, I900.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. F. HART. FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

\X/ITNEESESI No. e5|,|a7-. Patented June 5, I900.

T. F. HART. Y

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets8heef 4.

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WITNEEEEE {i7 l/a M ing the fold.

THOMAS F- HART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING-#MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pateiit No. 651,187, dated time 5,1900.

Application filed September 21,1899. serial No. 731,141. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. HART, of Lynn, in the county of Essex andState of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding-Machines,

. of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for folding the edges of pieces ofmaterial, such as parts of shoe-uppers.

The invention has for its object to render such machines more automaticin their action than heretofore and to improve their construction andoperation 'in other particulars, as will be explained at length in thesucceeding description. 7

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of afolding-machine constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2represents a front elevation thereof Fig. 3 represents an end elevation,partly broken away. Fig. 4 represents a median vertical section. Figs. 5and 6 represent sections on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, with certain of theparts in different relative positions. Figs. 7 and 8 represent sectionson the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, with the parts shown in different relativepositions. Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal section of the former andcarrier,partly broken away. Figs. 10 and 11 represent partial sectionssimilar to Fig. 4, showing the action of the folder. Fig. 12 representsa detail perspective View of the mechanism controlling the clutch. Fig.13 represents a reverse plan view of the clutch. Fig. 14 represents a1ongitudinal section thereof. Figs.'15 to 19, inc1usive,represent detailsectional views showing the action of the parts concerned in mak- Thesame reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a frame provided at its front part witha horizontal worksupporting table 2, having a removable portion or plate3, held in place by screws 4 4. Said plate 3 has an inner edge curved orshaped to correspond to the shapeof the folded edge of the work, and itis adapted to be removed and replaced by another plate having adifferent-shaped edge when the shape of the work changes. The frame 1has bearings for a shaft 50, running through the middle of the machineand supportingat one end a sprocket:

- wheel 6, which is adapted to be connected by a chain with a suitablepower-shaft which will rotate the sprocket-wheel continuously. Saidsprocket-wheel is loosely mounted on the shaft 50 and is provided with ahub 8, constituting one half of a clutch and having a series oflaterally-projecting teeth or legs 9 9. The other half 10 of said clutchis fixed to the shaft 50 and is equipped with a sliding block 11,normally pressed by a spring 12 into the path of the teeth 9 on theclutch-half 8, but adapted to be withdrawn to disconnect the parts ofthe clutch from each other by a controlling mechani'sm hereinafterdescribed. The shaft 50 carries suitable cams for producing themovements of the former and folder in folding the work.

13 designates the former, around which the edge of the work is folded bythe folder, said former consisting of a flat metal blade attached to aformer-carrier 15, which is supported by a lever 16, forked at its frontend and engaging hooks 18 18 on the upper side of the former-carrier.The lever 16 is pivoted at 17 at its rear end toafixed standard on themachine-frame and is normally elevated by a spring 27, interposedbetween itand the frame, which spring holds the former raised above thesurface of the table 2 in a position to permit of the insertion of thework. To depress the former,'the operator steps on a treadle (not shown)which is connected with a vertical treadle-rod 28, attached at its upperend to the lever 16. The attachment of the rod to the lever is ayielding one, including a spring 30, interposed between an adjustablenut 29 on the head of the rod 28 and the upper side of the lever 16, theobject of this connection being to permitfurthermovement of thetreadle-rod after the former has been clamped upon the work forthepurpose of connecting the clutch and starting the shaft 50 inrevolution, as I shall presently explain. The former is guided in itsvertical movements by two posts or blocks 19 19, pivotally attached tothe ends ofits carrier 15 and fitted to slide in vertical sockets orguides in the frame 1, the forward movement of said posts being limitedby studs 60, projecting from their lowerends below said sockets. Theposts 19 are formed with recesses or clefts 20 in their upper ends, inwhich the ends of the former-carrier are located, and

said carrier is attached to the posts by means of pins 21 23,'passedthrough the posts and carrier. The pin 21 is fixed in its post, and theend of the carrier 15 is longitudinally recessed or cleft at 22 toengage said pin, making a non-locked connection, while the pin 23, whichhas a head, as shown, is removable and passes through an aperture in theother end of the carrier, making a locked connection. The describedconnection of the formercarrier to the posts 19 and the lever 16provides for the ready removal of said carrier, together with itsformer, and the substitution of another carrier having a former of adifferent shape when it is desired to operate on different-shaped work.To accomplish this removal, the pin 23 is taken out, thus liberating oneend of the former-carrier from its post 19, and by a simple manipulationthe carrier is disengaged from the lever 16 and its slotted endwithdrawn from engagement with the fixed pin 21 on the other post 19.The latter is fitted to turn in its socket to allow the carrier to beswung out and its hooks 18 disengaged from the forks of the lever 10. Bya reversal of this operation the new carrier and its attached former areinserted in place.

The thin blade 13 constituting the former is attached at its ends to twoshort rods 24 24, fitted to slide in guides 25 25, screwed to the barconstituting the body of the carrier 15. The blade 13 is thus permittedto have a movement laterally of said bar to withdraw it from the fold inthe work after the folder has operated to fold the edge of the workaround the edge of said blade 13. Two springs 26 26, surrounding therods 24 24, normally press the former 13 forward into its foldingpositi0n,and its backward withdrawing movement is automaticallyaccomplished at the proper time by the action of a'pair of cams 31 31,fixed to the shaft 50. These cams operate against a pair of arms 32 32,which are pivoted at their lower ends to studs 33 on the frame 1, andare engaged at their upper ends with the rods 24 At the proper time thecams oscillate the arms and slide the former-blade 13 back underneathits carrier 15. The cams 31 bear against screws 34 34 on the arms 32,said screws being adjustable to regulate the position of the former.

Underneath the former 13 I attach to the carrier 15, as best shown inFig. 9, a thin metal blade or strip 31,which comes between the formerand the work when said former is depressed into folding position andoperates as a clamp to hold the work stationary against the table andprevent it from being displaced by the withdrawing movement of theformer.

35 designates the folder, consisting, as

' shown, of a plate removably attached by screws 41 41 to afolder-carrier 36 and having an edge properly shaped to correspond tothe shape of the work. The normal position of the upper surface of thefolder 35 is substantially flush with the upper surface of thework-supporting table 2, and the work when positioned is placed on saidtable with its edge slightly overlapping the edge of the folder. Anadjustable gage 59 is attached to the upper side of the folder 35 to aidin positioning the work. In my improved machine I impart to the folder,first, an upward movement to turn the edge of the work up, then ahorizontal movement to project it over the former and turn the edge ofthe work completely around the edge of the former, then a downwardmovement to set the fold after the former is withdrawn, then an up wardmovement followed by a retraetive hori: zontal movement, and, finally, adownward movement to restore it toits normal position. These movementsare all performed automatically. The folder-carrier ispivoted at 37 atits rear end to the upper end of a link 38, whose lower end is pivotedat 39 to a fixed bracket on the frame 1. A spring 40 pressing againstthe link 38 tends to impart a horizontal retraetive movement to thecarrier 36, and a pair of springs 44,0ne of which is shown in Figs. 3,5, and 6 interposed beneath the folder, tends to impart an upwardmovement to the latter. The counter movements are imparted to thecarrier by two earns 42 and 45, attached to the shaft 50. The cam 45presses against a bar 46, supported at one end by a screw 47 and at theother end by a spring 48 on the carrier, and it has two high positionson opposite sides of the shaft 50. The cam 42 has one high position andoperates against a vertical face or abutment 43 on the carrier 36. Theparts start from the normal positions, (shown in Fig. 4,) in which oneof the high parts of the cam 45 is pressing against the bar 46 to holdthe folder in depressed position. The revolution of the shaft 50 thencarries the cams to the positions shown in Fig. 10, in which said highpart of the cam 45 has passed and the folder is permitted to rise abovethelevel of the table 2. The cam 42 next operates to project thefolderover the edge of the former, and while the high part of said camis still in action the other high part on the cam 45 depresses thefolder, bringing its under side down upon the fold. The spring 48permits the bar46 to yield during the latter movement. After the foldhas been compressed and while the high part on the cam 42 is stillholding the folder projected the second high part on the cam 45 passesand permits the folder to rise from oif the fold, after which the highpart of cam 42 passes, the folder is retracted horizontally, and thefirst high part on the cam 45 causes the folder to descend to its normallevel. The retraction of the former 13 by the cams 31 takes place justbefore the folder 35 descends upon the folded edge to press the sameagainst the table.

It has been stated that the spring 12 behind the sliding block 11 in theclutch norm ally presses the said block into the path of the teeth 9, soas to lock the parts of the clutch ICO cillates the arm 52.

together. 49 represents an arm pivoted loosely on a fixed axle or shaft39 and having a beveled end adapted to engage a-beveled shoulder 61 (seeFig. 13)-on the block 11 and withdraw said block from the path of theteeth 9 on the revolving half 8 of the clutch. A spring 51 normallyelevates said arm 49 into operative position. ond arm loosely pivoted onthe axle 39 and carrying a loosely-hung hooked catch or dog 53, which isadapted to engage a projection 56 on the arm 49. Said arm 52 is alsoprovided with a wrist or projection 54, engaged by a cleft or recessedblock .'screwed to the treadle-rod 28, whence it will be seen that thedepression of the said treadle-rod 28 os- The downward movement of thelatter carries the catch 53 into engagement with the projection 56 andimparts a downward oscillatory movement to the arm 49, which carries theend of said arm out of engagement with the block 11 andcauses the partsof the clutch to become engaged and the shaft 50 to be started inrevolution. A further downward movement of the arm 52 brings the heel 58of the catch 53 into contact with a fixed stop 57 and oscillates saidcatch, so as to cause the release of the said arm 49. The latter thenreturns to its initial position in the path of the block 11 and retractssaid block upon the completion of one revolution of the shaft 50, thusreleasing the clutch and causinga cessation of further movement of theshaft 50, though the treadle-rod 28 may still remain depressed. Thecatch 53 is weighted, so that its hooked upper end is normally in thepath of the projection 56, and upon the release of the treadle-rod 28and the elevation of said catch its upper end, which is beveled, isdisplaced in passing the projection 56.

The operation of the machinewill readily appear from the foregoingdescription. The operator places a piece of work upon the worksupportingtable 2 with its edge overlapping the folder '35, the edge of the workhaving previously been coated with a suitable adhesive material, such asrubhercement, to cause the sides of the fold to adhere. The treadle isthen depressed to bring the former 13 down upon the work, and acontinuation of the movement of the treadle, which is permitted by thespring30, placed between the head of the treadle-rod 28 and the lever16, oscillates the arm 49 and releases the clutch, as described. Theshaft 50 is thus set in motion from the revolving wheel 6 and the folderautomatically elevated and projected to make the fold, the formerwithdrawn from the fold, the folder retracted and depressed, the formerreturned, and the shaft 50 stopped at the end of one revolution. Theoperator then releases the treadle, permitting the former to rise andthe folded work to be removed.

It is to be understood that a number of different-shaped folders andwork-supporting plates and formers with their carriers will be 52represents asec-- kept in reserve and applied to the machine as requiredby the shape of the work.

I do not confine myself to the exact details of construction andarrangement herein set forth, as the same maybe variously modifiedwithout departing from the spirit of the in-- is made, and a cam on saidshaft, said cam causing the folder to be elevated prior to itsretraction.

2. In a folding-machine, a folder, a foldercarrier, a rotary shafthaving suitable bearings, and two cams mounted on said shaft and adaptedto engage said folder-carrier, one of said cams causing the folder to beelevated and depressed, and the other causing it to be projected andretracted.

3. In a folding-machine, a folder, a foldercarrier having aspring-resisted abutment, a rotary shaft having suitable bearings, a cammounted on said shaft and adapted to engage said spring-resistedabutment on the foldercarrier, saidicam causing the folder-carrier to beelevated and depressed, and means for projecting and retracting thefolder.

4. In a folding-machine, a former,a rotary shaft having suitablebearings, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft for causing theretraction and projection of said former, and a pair of pivotal armsinterposed between the cams and the former.

5. In a folding-machine, a frame, a formercarrier, posts attached tosaid carrier and suitablyguided in the frame, one of said posts beingconstructed as a swivel, a coupling or connection between theformer-carrier and said post, said coupling having fixed members, acoupling or connection between the other post and said carrier, saidcoupling having a fixed member and a removable member and means forelevating and depressing the carrier and posts.

6. In a folding-machine,aframe, a pair of posts mounted in suitableguides thereon and recessed at their ends, one of said posts having afixed pin projecting across .the recess in its end, a former-carriermounted in the recesses of said posts and. having a recess at one endoccupied by the said fixed pin, and an aperture at the other end, aremovable headed pin connecting the other post with the apertured end ofthe former-carrier, a former attached to said carrier, means forelevating and depressing said former and its carrier, and means forprojecting and retracting the former.

7. In a folding-machine, a work-supporting table, a former, means formoving said former toward and from the table, means for retracting andprojecting the former, a folder adapted to fold the edge of the workaround said former, and a clamping-'stri p interposed between the formerand the work-supporting table, and operating to hold the work stationaryagainst the work-supporting table during the retraction of the former.

8. In a foldingqnachine, a work-supporting table, a former-carrier, aformer attached to and movable laterally with respect to the carrier,means for so moving the former to retract and project it, means forelevating and depressing the carrier and former, and a clamping-stripfixed to the carrier beneath the said former and adapted to hold thework stationary against the work-supporting table during the retractionof the former.

9. In a folding-machine, a folder, mechanism for operating the same, acontinuous ly-rotated member, a clutch adapted to efiect connectionbetween said member and the folder-operating mechanism, a former, adevice for operating the same, and means actuated by the movement ofsaid former-operating device for operating, the clutch.

10. In a folding-machine, mechanism for folding the work, a continuouslyrotated member, a clutch adapted to effect connection between saidmember and the folding mechanism, a treadle rod or equivalent, meansoperated by said rod during a part of its movement for connecting theclutch, and means operated by the continued movement of the rod fordisconnecting the clutch.

11. In a folding-machine, mechanism for folding the work, said mechanismincluding a former, a continuously-rotated member, a clutch adapted toeffect connection between said member and the folding mechanism, a

treadle-rod or equivalent connected with said former and adapted todepress the same upon the work, and means actuated by the movement ofsaid rod for operating the clutch. I

12. In a folding-machine, a former, a folder adapted to cooperatetherewith in folding the work, a shaft having suitable bearings andprovided with a series of cams for operating the former and folder, acontinuouslyrotated member, a clutch adapted to effect connectionbetween said member and said shaft, a device for depressing the formerupon the work, and means actuated by the movement of said device foroperating the clutch.

13. In a folding-machine, mechanism for folding the work, acontinuously-rotated member, a clutch adapted to effect connectionbetween said member and the folding mechanism, a clutch-operating arm, areciprocating pawl adapted to engage and oscillate said arm, atreadle-rod or equivalent arranged to reciprocate said pawl, and astationary abutment adapted to engage said pawl during the latter partof its reciprocation, and cause it to release the clutch-operating arm.

14. In a folding-machine, a folding mechanism including a former adaptedto descend upon the work, a continuously-rotated member, a clutchadapted to effect connection between said member and the foldingmechanism, a device adapted to first connect and then disconnect theclutch during a continuous movement, and ayielding operating connectionbetween said device and the former, whereby said former is depressedduring a part of said movement.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS F. HART. WVitnesses:

E. BATCHELDER, II. L. ROBBINS.

